Walking the Mildmay Legacy: Newington Green and Beyond

You are invited to join fellow members of Emmanuel College for a fascinating walking tour through 400 years of history around the Newington Green and surrounding Mildmay area, a corner of London deeply connected to the legacy of the college’s founder, Sir Walter Mildmay.

This engaging and accessible walk will explore how the Mildmay name was woven into the fabric of this part of the city, from the historic estate of Sir Walter’s descendants (many of them Emmanuel men) to the 19th-century missionaries and healthcare pioneers who carried the Mildmay name into new realms of social action.

We’ll visit the site of the Mildmay Mission Hospital, born out of the evangelical zeal of William and Catherine Pennefather, whose work with the urban poor and early nursing deaconesses echoed Sir Walter’s own commitment to education, reform, and public service. The tour also takes in Newington Green, a historic hub of dissent and radical thought, home to figures such as Mary Wollstonecraft and Daniel Defoe, and a place where the values of nonconformity and social justice flourished.

Led by guide Debbie Kent, an alumnus of Open City’s Golden Key Academy, this walk offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the broader impact of the Mildmay legacy – not only in the founding of Emmanuel, but in shaping communities, challenging norms, and caring for the vulnerable.

Whether you're interested in college history, social reform, or simply a good story well told, this promises to be a memorable afternoon.

This walking tour takes place before our Emmanuel Society London Drinks event, starting at 6.00pm in Holborn. We'd love to see you there!